Compressor and tank unit



April l931- E. A. HOBART 1,802,175

COMPRESSOR AND TANK UNIT Filed Aug. 51, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR A TTORNE Y pr 21, 1931. 'E. A. HOBART 1,802,175

COMPRESSOR AND TANK UNIT Filed Aug. 31, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/gZ INVENTOR BY Maw ATTORNEY April 21, 1931.

E. A. HOBART COMPRESSOR Aim TANK UNIT Filed Aug. 31, 1922a 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR W TM;

A TTORNEY April- 21, 1931; 7 I E AIIHQBART 1,802,175

' COMPRESSOR AND TANK UNIT Filed Aug. :s1, 1928 5 sheet -sheet 4 +4 I 41 I 46 I v Mam A TTORNEY COMPRESSOR AND TANK UNIT Filed Aug. 31', 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet -5 6 V IN VENIOR p z 1931! E. A. HOBART 1,802,175

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE *EDVIARD A. HOBART, OR TROY, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE vHOBART BROS. 00., OF TROY,

OHIO, A CORPORATION OHIO COMPRESSOR AND TANKUNIT Application fiiedau nst 31,1928. SerialNo. 303,209.

7 This invention relates to air-compressors, andespecially to that type'of air compressor nsecl'in connection with inflating automobile I tires and is adaptedfor automatic operation.

It is. an object'of this invention to provide adevice of thistype in which there is an intermediate reservoir or tank which is located between the compressor apparatus provide a deviceof thiskind in which any *oilor water present in the air'istrapped and can be removed therefrom.

It is a :turther object of thisinvention to provide an automatic switch operating device in which the operating-means is maintained in the condition free from moisture, oil and otherforeign matters thatmight beinj urious to'ther-parts of the switch operating mecha- 'nism'. V I

'It is a further object of this invention to provide a compressor in which the tank is composed of sheet metal with the partswelded together and having on the end a ring with an outstanding supporting-flange, to which the super-structure of the compressor is attached. It is also an object of this invention to provide a compressor of the tank *as above described, supporting/a compressor mechanism consisting of a motor and its cooperatingjgear mechanism securely mounted in a housing just above the. tank. In said mechanism'the motor shaft is directly connectedto the gearing that operates the compressor itself. 1

"It is afurt'her object of this invention'to provide, in connection with the operating parts, an oil reservoir by which the bearings may be well lubricated.

'4 It is a still further object to provide a compressor composed essentiallyof a main tank with the'compressor actuating means mounted on said tankwith compressor cylin- "ders, an auxiliary tank, anda manifold immediately mounted on top-of the-operating Figure 2.

machinery. By this means there is provided a compressor that is compact and one in whichthe parts are-mounted one on the other, so thatthe'whole assembled device will-occupy a minimum of space with the parts so 155 7 attached that there is'no play or movement,

in order thatthe connecting pipes "will not become loosened.

For-the purposes of illustration there is presented here a preferred embodiment of this invention, but it is not the intention of applicant to be limited by the formof device shownin the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side view of the device showing part of the tank in section.

Figure 2 is'a vertical-section'on 2-2 of Figure 3. v

Figure -3 is a section onthe line -33 of the line I Figure 4 is-a section on the line .44"of Figure 2. r

'Figure 5 is a plan view of the plate for supporting the intermediate reservoir and the manifold, and is attached to the upper part of the motor. Figure 6 is a view partly in section showing the intermediate tank, the gauge'and section of the manifold, as well as the switchcasing.

Figure 7 is a side View of themain tank. .280 Figure 8 is a view of the ring mounted upon a tank.

Figurei) is assectional View. of the lower :part of the tank.

.li-eferring to the drawings in detail, this inventlon comprises essentially a main reservoir, a compressor and an intermediate reservoir.

purpose of having the super-structure attached to the ring; There extends from the ring 2 a flange 4 which extends into the inside of the tank 1 and is welded to the side of the tank, being therefore substantially integral with the main walls of the tank.

The upper closure of the tank is composed of a concaved saucer-like structure 5. The edge of this closure is bent up to form wall shaped parts which contactwith the walls of the tank and is welded thereto. On the lower part of the tank there is a ring very similar to ring 2 but instead of fitting on the inside of the tank itfits on the outside and is represented by the numeral 6. In this ring there aresuitable holes indicated by 7, for the purpose of attaching it to any support or base structure. This rin 6 also has an upwardly extending flange 8 which is also attached to the outside wall of the tank and is welded thereto.

These closures, both upper and lower, being welded on the tank, compose the tank structure which is formed of substantially one piece of metal. Fitted within the lower part of the tank there is a bottom. closure 9, substantially the same shape as the upper closure and placed in the tank in substantially the same relation as the upper closure. This bottom closure has a flange extending around the lower inside part of the tank and is welded thereto, the same as the upper closure 5.

Mounted upon the tank 1 and fixed thereto by bolt or screw means extending through the holes 3, there is mounted a motor and an eccentric means for operating the compressor. The motor casing is indicated by 10, while the casing that contains the eccentric is in dicated by 11. This casing 11 also contains oil or a suitable lubricant for lubricating the machinery enclosed therein.

Casings 10 and 11 are fastened together by means of screws indicated by 12, as is clearly shown by Figure 3. The motor itself is represented by 13 and has the usual motor shaft 14. The shaft bearings, two in number, are indicated by 15 and are in, the housings. This motor shaft extends substantially horizontally and has on the end thereof which projects into the eccentric casing, a gear 16 which meshes with another gear 17. The 17 is mounted upon a sleeve 18 in any suitable manner. It might be made integral with it or it might be made separate therefrom and united therewith by screws or bolts. In the present instance it is shown to be united with the sleeve by means of screws. On each end of the sleeve 18 there is an eccentric 19 which is circular in shape.

The sleeve 18 and the accompanying eccentrics are mounted upon a shaft 20 which is suitably supported in holes 21, on each side of the eccentric casing. Around the shaft 20 adjacent the sleeve there is located a plate member 22 which is held by means of screws 23. By means of the screws 23 the plate member may be adjusted so as to bear against one end of the sleeve and take up any slack or motion it might have with respect to the side walls of the casing.

Each side wall, at the point where the shaft 20 enters it and around the hole 21, is enlarged to make the wall heavier and stouter at this point. Around each eccentric 19 there is a strap 24 which forms part of the piston rods 25. The other end of the piston rods from the rings 24; have holes therein to receive pins 27 which are suitably mounted in the pistons 26. Each of these pistons move up and down in the cylinder 26.

When the sleeve 18 rotates by means of the motor through the gear 17, the pistons are caused to move up and down in the cylinders and force the air out. Located at a suitable point in the upper surface of the cylinders is a valve 28 which is held in closed position by means of the spring 29. This spring 29 is sufficient to keep the valve closed under ordinary conditions, but permits air to be forced. through the valve when the piston is forced upward by the rotation of the sleeve 18. There is also provided in the upper parts of the cylinders an intake valve 30, which valve is so constructed that air can be freely admitted into the cylinders on the downward stroke of the piston, but is closed on the upward stroke, while at the same time the air is being allowed to pass valve 28.

For the purpose of providing means of admission of the air through the valve 30, there is an intake pipe or tube 31 which leads from without the cylinder to the inside thereof, and admits air through the intake valve 30. When the air is forced out of the cylinders through valve 28. it passes through pipe 32 into the intermediate reservoir 33. The intermediate reservoir is cylindrical in shape and has the top part thereof welded to the sides 33. The lower part of the intermediate tank is welded by means of-welds 34 to a base plate 34'. By this means there is constructed an intermediate reservoir of metal in substantially one piece. This reservoir attached to one end of the base plate as well indicated in Figure 5.

On the other end of the base plate there is attached a. manifold. The pipe 32 leads into the reservoir 33 as clearly indicated in Figure 3. Extending from the upper part of this tank there is a threaded pipe the leads into a check valve 35 which is held by means of a spring 36. From this check valve the air is forced through the pipe 37 into a manifold 38.

There is also fitted in the upper part of the intermediate tank a relief valve 30 which of conventional structure, and adapted to relieve excess pressure. The manifold 38 welded to the base plate 34 along the side and lower edge thereof as indicated by $0 and shown in Figure 3.

- and the other into the main tank. The pipe 41 leading from the manifold to the switch leads immediately into a casing 42 which is in the lower part of a larger casing or housing 43. lVithin the casing 42 and suitably supported therein is a diaphragm 44 against which pressure from the manifold, through the pipe 41, acts to move up and down a rod member 45 which rests on the diaphragm 44. The rod member 45 is suitably attached to some switch mechanism whereby the contact is made and broken for the purpose of open ing and closing an electrical circuit, whereby the control of the motor to operate the compressor is effected.

The gauge 38 is a conventional form of gauge to determine the amount of air pressure at any particular time. From one of the holes in the manifold the pipe 46 leads to an opening or hole in the upper part of the main tank or reservoir 1.

It is clear from the foregoin description that upon starting the motor t 1e generator will act to force air into the intermediate reservoir, from which it passes through the check valve and pipe 37 into the main. tank or reservoir. In passing from the pipe 37 into the main reservoir the air passes into a manifold which has connected thereto a pressure gauge and device for controlling a switch mechanism for starting and stopping the motor.

After the pressure has reached a certain point, the mechanism in connection with casing 43 is adjusted so that the current will be cut off by the automatic breaking of the circuit, but when the pressure has been removed from the main tank by use of the air stored therein, the pressure on the diaphragm is removed and contact again is made whereby the circuit is closed and the motor again started to operate the compressor. This'action is repeated automatically as the supply of air is exhausted and restored.

From the foregoing description in connection with the drawings it is seen that applicant has provided a comp act and conveniently arranged device of this class. The parts are arranged one above the other so as to occupy a minimum of space. The lower part of the device consists of the tank which aifords means of support for the other part of the device. Immediately upon the upper end of the tank is located a housing in which the motor and the operating gears are placed in close fitting cooperation with each other.

There is a direct drive from the motor shaft to the gear parts and there is ample lubrication provided for these parts. Just on top of the casing of the motor and the gear there is located the compression cylinders and to a pressure controlcontact operating means.

afford a maxnnum of efficiencyamotor, in one casing, a motor shaft supportintermediate compression'tank and amanifold. From the manifold there are four passages, one leading; to the intermediate tank, another leading to the main tank,-another to the pressure indicated and still another All of these parts are connected to each other inthemost compact and convenient way so as to occupy a minimum of space and to Having thus fully described my what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. In-an air compressor, a doublecasing,

ed in abearing in one outer wall and the partition wall of said casing, a gear onthe end of said shaft within the other casing, a gear shaft mounted within the other casing {and having a gear'in engagement with the "gear on themotor shaft.

2. In an air compressor, compressor means, compressor operating means, a plate mounted upon'said compressor operating means, said plate having welded thereon an intermediate tank and a manifold welded to said plate,

and means for conducting the air from the compressor means to-the intermediate tank and to the manifold.

3. In an air compressor, a double casin a motor mounted in one casing, a motor shaft supported in hearings in one wall and the partition of said-casing, a gear on the end of saidshaft within the other casing, a shaft mounted in the other casing and supported by the walls thereof, a'sleeve onsaid shaft, said sleeve having an eccentric and a gear there- "on,:sa1d gear being 1n engagement wlth the firstnamed gear, the last named casing being constructed to'containa lubricant for lubricatin the sleeve and gear and the bearing in b the partition.

l. In an air compressor, a plate, a reservoir formed on saidplatesothat the plate isthe bottom thereof, a manifold welded to said plate, and means to force air through the reservoir and manifold.

5. In an air compressor, a tank, a casing' adapted to contain a lubricant supported on said tank, a motor and motor operated gears enclosed and supported in bearings in said casing, part of said gearing extending into the lubricant in said casing and adapted during operation to distribute said lubricant to the bearings of said motor and gearings and compressor means operated byv the gear and supported upon the casing for forcing air into the tank.

6. In an air compressor, a compressor and a compressor operating means, a plate hav ing a tank and a manifold welded thereto supported on top of the compressor operating means, an upright switch control casing mounted on said manifold and connected therewith by a vertical pipe which forms a trap to prevent oil and water from reaching the interior of the casing, and means connecting the tank and the manifold to the compressor.

5 7. In an air compressor, a compressor and a compressor operating means, a plate having welded thereto an intermediate tank and a manifold supported on top of the compressor operating means, a casing supported on the manifold and having air connection with the manifold by a vertical pipe which serves to keep oil and moisture out of the casing, a diaphragm operated means in said casing to start and stop the compressor operating means at a fixed air pressure, and means conmeeting the manifold and the intermediate tank with the compressor.

8. In a compressor, a tank, compressor means supported by the tank, an intermediate tank connected to the compressor and having an inlet and an outlet pipe in the top thereof and adapted to retain any foreign matter in the air, a manifold supported by the compressor means, and connected to the tank and the intermediate tank, and a startand stop mechanism supported by the manifold, said mechanism including a casing having a vertical pipe connection with the manifold, and a diaphragm operated plunger therein.

9. In an air compressor, air compressing means, a plate supported by said means, a reservoir welded to said plate, air connection between the compressing means and the reservoir, a manifold welded to the plate and having an air connection with the reservoir, and

an air outlet from the manifold.

10. In an air compressor, a reservoir for said compressor open at one end, a plate welded to the open end of the reservoir to form a closure therefor, and a manifold welded to said plate, said manifold having a plurality of outlets and an air connect-ion with the reservoir, said plate, reservoir and manifold being supported by the compressor.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

EDIVARD A. HOBART. 

